Low cost portable computing device

Abstract

A very low cost computer comprising a motherboard socketed to receive selected components including a processor, memory modules, and interface controllers for connecting to peripheral devices, in combination with a micro-projection display system. The display system employs a low resolution imaging device such as a transmissive or reflective spatial light modulator in combination with an image deflection system for dithering a sequence of low resolution images from the imaging device as a composite high resolution image directed to either a front or rear projection screen. The system may be used in laptop computers and other portable electronic devices such as PDAs and cellular telephones, and in eyeglass-mounted displays.

1 . An image projector comprising a source of a sequence of two dimensional images each composed of an array of M elements in a first dimension and N elements in the other dimension, where N is greater than M and where M is greater than one, and a deflector for displaying said sequence of images on a target surface displaced from one another in said first dimension.  
   
   
       2 . An image projector as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said deflector displaces said sequence of images to produce a composite image composed of interleaved lines of N elements each.  
   
   
       3 . An image projector as set forth in  claim 2  wherein said source of a sequence of two dimensional images includes a spatial light modulation device for individually controlling the light intensity of each of element of each of said two dimensional images.  
   
   
       4 . An image projector as set forth in  claim 3  wherein said image projector includes a source of illumination and wherein said spatial light modulator is a transmissive device through which light passes from said source to said target.  
   
   
       5 . An image projector as set forth in  claim 3  wherein image projector includes a source of illumination and wherein said spatial light modulator is a device for reflecting light from said source onto said target.  
   
   
       6 . An image projector as set forth in  claim 2  wherein said deflector for displaying said sequence of images onto a target displaced from one another physically deflects said source of said images.  
   
   
       7 . An image projector as set forth in  claim 6  wherein said means for physically deflecting said source of said images is a piezoelectric actuator.  
   
   
       8 . An image projector as set forth in  claim 6  wherein said means for projecting said images onto a target displaced from one another comprises light deflection means for varying the direction at which light is projected onto said target.  
   
   
       9 . An image projector as set forth in  claim 8  wherein said light deflection means comprises an electrooptical light deflection device.  
   
   
       10 . A processing and display system for a portable electronic device comprising, in combination, 
 a motherboard adapted to support and interconnect an integrated circuit microprocessor, one or more random access memory modules, one or more peripheral device controllers, and a graphics output controller, and    a display system comprising a light source, a spatial light modulator for controlling the intensity of light from said source at each pixel position of an image consisting of a two dimensional array of pixels, and a projector for directing said image onto a target surface, said projector including a scanner for displacing said two dimensional image in one of said dimensions to form a higher resolution image on said target.    
   
   
       11 . A processing and display system for a portable electronic device as set forth in  claim 10  wherein said two dimensional array of pixels comprises M pixels in a short dimension and N pixels in a longer dimension, and wherein said means for projecting said images onto a target displaces said images in said short dimension to produce a higher resolution image.  
   
   
       12 . A processing and display system for a portable electronic device as set forth in  claim 10  wherein said spatial light modulator is a transmissive device through which light passes from said source to said target.  
   
   
       13 . A processing and display system for a portable electronic device as set forth in  claim 10  wherein said spatial light modulator is a device for reflecting light from said source onto said target.  
   
   
       14 . A processing and display system for a portable electronic device as set forth in  claim 10  wherein said scanner includes means for physically deflecting a portion of said projector.  
   
   
       15 . A processing and display system for a portable electronic device as set forth in  claim 10  wherein said scanner includes an electrooptical light deflector for varying the direction at which light is projected onto said target.  
   
   
       16 . A processing and display system for a portable electronic device as set forth in  claim 10  wherein said target surface is a reflective screen and wherein said projector is positioned to directs said image onto said screen from the front.  
   
   
       17 . A processing and display system for a portable electronic device as set forth in  claim 10  wherein said target surface is translucent screen and wherein and wherein said projector is positioned to direct said image onto said screen from the rear of said translucent screen.  
   
   
       18 . A processing and display system for a portable electronic device as set forth in  claim 10  wherein the size of said target surface is variable and wherein said projector includes means for varying the size of the image directed onto said target surface as the size of said target surface varies.  
   
   
       19 . A processing and display system for a portable electronic device as set forth in  claim 10  wherein said projector includes at least on reflector for providing a folded optical pathway for projecting said image onto said target surface.  
   
   
       20 . A computer comprising, in combination, a processor, a random access memory, and an image projector, said image projector comprising a source of a sequence of two dimensional images each composed of an array of M elements in a first dimension and N elements in the other dimension, where N is greater than M and where M is greater than one, and projection optics for displaying said images on a surface, said projection optics including a lens and a deflector for projecting said sequence of images from said source onto said surface displaced from one another in said first dimension.  
   
   
       21 . A computer as set forth in  claim 20  mounted within a laptop housing which further mounts an exposed keyboard and a display panel which forms said surface.  
   
   
       22 . A computer as set forth in  claim 21  wherein said lens is positioned to project said images onto said surface from a position between said keyboard and said surface.  
   
   
       23 . A computer as set forth in  claim 21  wherein said lens is positioned to project said images over said keyboard onto said surface.  
   
   
       24 . A computer as set forth in  claim 21  wherein said display panel is translucent and wherein said lens is positioned to project said images onto said surface from a position behind said display panel.